Articles
Law firm to move into Portland waterfront
Property owners in the central waterfront zone in Portland are generally-and perhaps surprisingly-optimistic about plans to convert the giant Cumberland Cold Storage building on Merrill Wharf into office space for northern New England’s largest law firm. “The ripple effect will be huge,” predicts Charlie Poole, owner of neighboring Union Wharf and a well-regarded spokesman for
Portland considers changes to waterfront zoning
Finding the key to success for Portland’s working waterfront has challenged city officials and shorefront property owners for more than 20 years. Now they’re trying again, with a revised zoning statute that would relax the currently strict rules concerning allowable uses in the central waterfront zone between the Maine State Pier and the International Marine
Islanders pick their battles with invasive species
Islands have their own unique ecosystems, but their isolation also makes them uniquely vulnerable to invaders from the mainland. Landscapers who want to use Japanese barberry in their garden designs aren’t welcome on Monhegan Island, for example. Bamboo doesn’t have any friends on Swan’s Island. Bittersweet is considered more bitter than sweet on Islesboro. Monhegan’s
High-speed Internet still a problem for many coastal businesses
Joan Herrick, of Northport, has waited as long a half hour for a website to load on her computer while researching patterns for her home-based quilt-making business. Food historian Sandy Oliver often has time to wash the dishes in her Islesboro home while downloading a document from the Library of Congress. Jennifer Bichrest, owner of